Object

Representation ID: 14777

Received: 11/10/2021

Respondent: Finchfield and Castlecroft Community Association

I write as Chairman of the Finchfield and Castlecroft Community Association, which represents hundreds of residents in these areas of Wolverhampton. My comments reflect the views of the committee and the great majority of residents in Finchfield and Castlecroft.

Our objection to the draft Black Country Plan specifically relates to site WOH274, the former Wolverhampton Environment Centre on Westacre Crescent in Finchfield, where it is proposed to build 14 properties. The community association, and hundreds of local residents as well as the local councillors, object to this proposal in the strongest possible terms.

The site sits at the heart of the Smestow Valley Nature Reserve, and is currently green open space that is enjoyed by many people, some of whom travel a considerable distance just to enjoy the nature and the beauty of the land. The value of having this green open space was particularly felt during the recent pandemic, when getting out and enjoying nature was one of the few pleasures that people could take part in when large parts of the country were closed.

The community association has previously held meetings with council officers to discuss their plans to build on the site. We note that the council's planning permission lapsed earlier this year without any development taking place. We would argue that the council is fully aware of local opposition to their proposals, and they had the chance to build on the land but didn't. They should not be given a second chance.

We work closely with the 'Friends of the WEC' group, a social media forum which currently has over 1,000 members, to oppose any development on the site and instead to preserve it for the local community to enjoy. The site is a hotbed of nature and wild animals, and any housing on the land could only be of detrimental effect to them. The land also absords water from the nearby Smestow Brook when that overflows, acting as a shallow wetland which benefits the environment and nature. If houses were built on the land, this would cause drainage problems and the overspill would have to go elsewhere.

The site is also specifically protected in the Tettenhall Neighbourhood Plan (Policy TNP6) where it states the land is designated as agricultural and the preferred option is to retain the land for community use. The Neighbourhood Plan also states that the site should be fully integrated into the Nature Reserve, and indeed designated as a SINC. Wolverhampton Council have disregarded the Neighbourhood Plan when drawing up their proposals to build on the site.

As part of the development of the Tettenhall Neighbourhood Plan, a public survey was conducted in which 78% of respondents objected to any housing development on the site. This further strengthens our objections on behalf of the local community.

To conclude, as a Community Association representing hundreds of local residents in Finchfield and Castlecroft, who would be greatly affected by development of the former WEC site, we object to the inclusion of this site in the Black Country Plan and request that it is removed. It is our strong belief that Wolverhampton Council can find more appropriate space elsewhere in the city for 14 properties to be built, including via increasing numbers at existing brownfield sites where development is planned.